AREJUG'S BLOG

NEW DELHI, -- Kingfisher Airlines, India's second largest private airlines, will soon start daily flights from Chennai to Kuala Lumpur.

India's Civil Aviation Ministry is said to have granted permission for the airline to fly the Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Singapore sector.

The Economic Times reported today that the Kingfisher, owned by the United Breweries Group, controlled by Indian industrialist, Vijay Mallya, would fly the new routes.

"We have granted permission to Kingfisher to operate daily services on three more international sectors, including Chennai-Kuala Lumpur, with immediate effect," a ministry official was quoted as saying.

The paper however did not name the official.

"The Aviation Ministry has asked the airlines to conduct proper study of air tr+affic on new routes before announcing the launch.

"In case the airline launches its services on new routes without a market survey, it may be forced to withdraw flights later. This must be avoided," said the official.

After Jet Airways, Kingfisher is one of the most preferred airlines in the domestic circuit. As of last year its share of Indian aviation market stood at 27 percent.

According to recent ministry data, the Bangalore-based airline, along with its budget carrier, Kingfisher Red, flew 11.26 million passengers last year, only next to Jet Airways that carried 12.01 million passengers.